Building-block



M. L. KING.

' BUILDING BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I3, 1919.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

Juf/enjoy" nf/Q7,

www...

y illustrated in the accompanying UNITED STATES MATTHEW LEANDER KING, 0FDES MOINES, IOWA.v

BUILDING-BLOCK.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led January 13, 1919. Serial No. 270,847.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MATTHEW LEANDER KING,avcitizen of the United States, and resident of Des Moines, in thecounty of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and usefulBuilding-Block, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to blocks used for masonry structures.

The object of my invention is to provide a block so constructed andarranged that a plurality of said blocks can be laid 1n a course withouthaving a mortar joint extending entirely across the blocks.

A further object is to provide such a block so constructed that aplurality of the blocks may be superposed one above the other, and themortar inserted between the blocks the necessary distance, whereb agreat saving of time and labor in building the structure isaccomplished.

Still a further object is to provide such a block so constructed thatthe blocks seat themselves and retain their alinement in proper positionwith relation to each o ther when superposed one above the other 1n acourse.

Still a further object is to provide such a block employing a minimumamount of material and affording air spaces between the sides of theblock.

Still a further object is to provide a block so constructed and arrangedthat when a plurality of the blocks are built into a structure, theblocks will be self-draining so that 'moisture will not travel acrossthe blocks between them.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims.and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one block embodying my invention,superposed upon another.

Fig. 2 shows a tion of a block.

Fig. 3 shows a transverse, vertical, sectional view of a portion of awall built of blocks embodying my invention.

Fig. 4 shows a similar view of a portion of a' wall made from blocksembodying a sli htly modified form of my invention, and

ig. 5 shows a side elevation of two courses perspective viewof aporwardly of masonry in Fig. 4.

My improved block is preferably hollow, and comprises the verticalspaced side walls which I have indicated in the accompanying drawings bythe reference numerals 10 and l1. My blocks may, if desired, be madewith central horizontal partitions 12.

The lower wall of the form of my block shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3comprises a central portionA 13 which is concave and is curved from itscentral longitudinal line downwardy and outwardly in both directions,the p ortion 13 terminating at points between the side walls 10 and 11,as shown in Fig. l.

Extending outwardly and slightly upfrom the ends of the portion 13 arethe block portions 14, the lower surfaces of which from their inner endsare inclined upwardly and outwardly then downwardly and may be smoothfor a short distance, as at 15. The lower surfaces of the portions 14from the portion 15 to the outer edge of the block are preferablyprovided with 1ongitudinal corrugations 16.

The upper wall of each block is concave and is curved from itslongitudinal central line upwardly and outwardly in both directionsforming a portion 18. At each end of the portion 18 is a laterallyextending block portion 19, having on its upper surface an upwardly andoutwardly inclined portion 20 extending outwardly from the portion 18,and a downwardly and outwardly inclined portion 21 which may havetransverse corrugations 22. A central longitudinal vertical partition 23may be employed.

In building a masonry structure of blocks such as thoseshown in Figs. 1to 3, the upper block is superposed on the lower block in the course, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the smooth surface l15 resting upon thesmooth surface 20. It will be seen that the inclination of said surfacesis such as to cause the upper block tov tend to move to lplosiilzionexactly superposed over the lower made of'blocks like those shownPatented Aug. 24, 1920.

When a wall, oraI portion of a wall, h as There are a number ofadvantages inherent in the use of a block of the type herein shown. Itwill be noted that an air space is provided between the outer portionl() of a wall made of such blocks, and the inner portion 11 thereof.

The mortar joint between the blocks is not continuous across the blocks.Hence a great deal less labor and mortar are required in making themortar joint. It will also be noted that by doing away with thecontinuous mortar joint insulation is provided against the passage ofheat or moisture.

On account of the tendency of the blocks to seat they may be laid with aminimum of labor and considerably less skill is required for buildingthe wall.

It will be noted that on account of the shape of the block members 18and 13 less material is used than if horizontal top and bottom wallswere used in connection with a longitudinal, central, verticalpartition.

In this connection 1t will be noted also that the moisture which mighttravel down the outer side of the wall, for instance, and

into the joint between the blocks, will be prevented from travelinginwardly by the longitudinal corrugations 16, or by the outward anddownward inclination of the surface. between the portion 15 and theouter surface of the block as shown at A in Fig. 3, and will also tendto travel downwardly over the portion 21.

The transverse corrugations 22 of the portion 21 -make it possible tosecure a better bond between the mortar and the block to preventlongitudinal movement of the blocks with relation to each other. Thecorrugations 16 not only prevent the moisture from traveling inwardly,but also make it possible to secure a better bond to strengthen the ywall against lateral sliding of the blocks with relation to each other.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a modified form of my invention, in whichthe hollow blocks 26 are provided on their top or bottorn surfaces orboth with outwardly extending lugs or ribs 27, whereby when the blocksare superposed one above the other they are spaced from each other sothat mortar may be introduced at the joints and will move inwardly onlya short distance, whereby a great saving of mortar and oflabor isaccomplished, as hereinbefore already eX- plained.

It will, of course, be yunderstood that the coating of plaster may ormay not be used, as desired.

Most of the advantages of my blocks may be had if the blocks are laid ina floor or other substantially flat structure, or in roofs or otherinclined structures, as well as in walls.

Changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improvedblocks without departing from the essential features and purposes of myinvention, and it is my intention to cover by this application anymodied forms of structure which may be included within the reasonablescope of my claims.

I claim as my invention.

1. A hollow block having vertical side walls and having an upper wallwith a concave central portion and with upwardly and outwardly inclinedsmooth surfaces at each side of said concave portion, said block havinga lower wall with a concave central portion and with smooth surfacedportions extending upwardly and outwardly from said concave portion, theupper surface of the block being inclined downwardly and outwardly fromthe smooth portions thereof.

2. A hollow block made ofy plastic material having vertical side wallsand having an upper wall with a concave central portion and withupwardly and outwardly inclined smooth surfaces at each side of saidconcave portion, said block having a lower wall with a concave centralportion and with smooth surfaced portions extending upwardly andoutwardly from said concave portion, the lower surface of each blockhaving at its outer portion longitudinal corru- MATTHEW LEANDER KING.

